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How to Calculate USD to CAD Manually
Calculating the conversion from United States Dollars (USD) to Canadian Dollars (CAD) is a straightforward mathematical process. Because the US Dollar is typically the stronger currency, you will usually receive more than one Canadian Dollar for every one US Dollar.
The Basic Formula:
USD Amount × Exchange Rate = CAD Total
Understanding the Components
To get an accurate calculation, you need two primary figures:
- USD Amount: The quantity of money you currently hold in US currency.
- The Exchange Rate: This represents how many Canadian Dollars one US Dollar can buy. For example, if the rate is 1.35, then $1.00 USD is worth $1.35 CAD.
Step-by-Step Conversion Example
Suppose you have $500 USD and the current market exchange rate is 1.36.
- Identify your base amount: 500
- Identify the rate: 1.36
- Multiply: 500 × 1.36 = 680
In this scenario, your $500 USD would convert to $680 CAD.
Why the Rate Varies
When you calculate exchange rates, keep in mind that the "mid-market rate" (the one you see on Google or news sites) is different from the "retail rate" provided by banks or kiosks. Banks usually add a "spread" or margin (often 2% to 5%) to the rate, meaning you will receive fewer Canadian Dollars than the raw calculation suggests.
Pro Tip: To find the "effective" exchange rate your bank is charging, simply divide the CAD you received by the USD you gave. If you gave $100 USD and got $132 CAD, your effective rate was 1.32.
Reverse Calculation: CAD to USD
If you want to go the other way (CAD to USD), you don't multiply by the same rate. Instead, you divide the CAD amount by the USD/CAD exchange rate:
CAD Amount ÷ Exchange Rate = USD Total
function calculateExchange() {
var usd = parseFloat(document.getElementById('usdAmount').value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('exchangeRate').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('conversion-result');
var resultText = document.getElementById('resultText');
if (isNaN(usd) || usd <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid USD amount.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(rate) || rate <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid exchange rate.");
return;
}
var totalCAD = usd * rate;
var formattedCAD = totalCAD.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
var formattedUSD = usd.toLocaleString(undefined, { minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2 });
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultText.innerHTML = '
' +
'Based on a rate of ' + rate.toFixed(4) + ' CAD per 1 USD.';
}